Photography Stack Exchange
Photography Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
47
votes
2 answers

Does this telescope only have a 4 blade aperture?

I was just looking at an image from NASA's APOD project I noticed that the starbursts are directly horizontal and vertical. If I recall correctly, on my DSLR I get one "ray" per blade. So does that mean that either the Hubble telescope or the…
Wayne Werner
  • 1,251
  • 1
  • 13
  • 22
47
votes
4 answers

How can I get photos showing the "shaft of light" effect?

I would like to be able to capture a photo which shows light shafts coming through the window. A famous example is this: I'm guessing this involves a tripod, a long exposure and strong sunlight, but presumably also some particulate in the air to…
Maynard Case
  • 3,370
  • 1
  • 21
  • 31
47
votes
6 answers

What technique and camera settings should I use to capture lightning strikes?

I enjoy getting images of different types of weather and would really like to capture some good lightning shots. I have a feeling that I should be stopping down a bit and taking somewhat long exposures, but it's all just a guess. I saw a question…
chills42
  • 23,657
  • 7
  • 85
  • 136
47
votes
16 answers

Why does fungus form in lenses, and how to get rid of it?

Recently I was using an old Pentax 50mm f/2 that had a quite big green spot, and later I was informed that it was a fungus. A couple of questions raised from this: Why does fungus form inside the lenses? What kind of "food" does it find in a glass…
Andres
  • 5,014
  • 12
  • 48
  • 70
47
votes
11 answers

What is crop factor and how does it relate to focal length?

I'm reading that a 50mm lens is recommended as a first prime lens for DSLR owners as it's supposed to give a 'natural' perspective, but when used on (most) DSLRs, the view is cropped, as if you were zoomed in by 1.5-1.6x, so it's more of a telephoto…
Mark
  • 1,200
  • 1
  • 10
  • 12
47
votes
5 answers

How do I calculate the distance of an object in a photo?

If I took a picture of a windmill on the horizon — given that I know the sensor size and the focal length of the lens and other factors to do with the shot — could I calculate how far away an object is from the photographer?
Rob
  • 2,621
  • 1
  • 21
  • 40
47
votes
2 answers

What is the Rule of Odds?

In furthering my reading on photographic composition I came across a compositional technique called the "Rule of Odds." What is the "Rule of Odds"? Why is it important? How do I apply it to my photography?
Jay Lance Photography
  • 26,740
  • 16
  • 99
  • 135
46
votes
7 answers

How do constant aperture zoom lenses work?

Cheaper zoom lenses usually are faster at the wide end and slower at the long end (for example, the $150 Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6). More expensive constant-aperture zoom lenses have the same aperture regardless (for example, $800 Canon EF…
Ken
  • 5,078
  • 4
  • 39
  • 56
46
votes
8 answers

Is switching to DNG worthwhile?

I'm aware of the difference between RAW and DNG file formats. The RAW format is proprietary to the camera manufacturer while DNG is an open standard. DNG files can be compressed without loss of detail, and can also include the photo metadata within.…
Grant Palin
  • 3,109
  • 5
  • 29
  • 46
46
votes
12 answers

How can I get dramatic shallow DOF with a kit lens?

I'm currently using an entry-level DSLR with 18-55mm lens and having great trouble trying to creating a blurred background effect in my photos. Now matter what aperture or shutter speed I choose, I'm not able to get it. There's a general question…
David
  • 545
  • 1
  • 4
  • 8
46
votes
10 answers

Should higher ISOs really be preferred (all other things being equal)?

My understanding of the ISO setting on digital cameras is that, unlike film-cameras, changing the ISO does not evoke any physical change in the camera. Rather, it simply tells the camera to multiply the analog-voltages it reads from the sensors by…
BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft
  • 1,994
  • 1
  • 16
  • 26
46
votes
4 answers

How does aperture work without "cropping" the image hitting the sensor?

I've been teaching myself the various settings in cameras and now have a much fuller understanding of how to use my camera effectively, but one thing is still bugging me. When the aperture size is changed, are any other lenses moving to refocus the…
Nick Bedford
  • 9,762
  • 3
  • 29
  • 40
46
votes
19 answers

Should I buy an original manufacturer battery, or is a generic brand OK?

I need another LP-E5 type battery for my Canon 450D. Should I buy an original Canon battery or one of the many generic brands available? There are loads of cheapos on eBay, for example. I should add that the new battery will be added to my existing…
Simon
  • 1,024
  • 1
  • 9
  • 17
46
votes
6 answers

Has my idea for a time lapse technique been used before?

I recently thought of a time lapse technique and want to know if there is there a name for it or if it has been widely used before. I want to take a time lapse of my garden at 1 frame per day for a long time, say one year (similar to this post) :…
F Chopin
  • 573
  • 4
  • 8
45
votes
11 answers

Should I keep Image Stabilization (IS) off when I do not actually need it?

I own a Canon 7D and a EF-S 15-85 IS lens and I keep the image stabilization turned on all the time. Recently, an experienced photographer told me that this is a huge mistake because it reduces image quality overall. Except the battery draining, is…
nuc
  • 715
  • 1
  • 6
  • 13
1 2 3
…
99 100